EXETERRPG: (16, 0908) CO, Lt. Commander Trip Williams and RSE Director Ashlyn Williams

[Will Banowsky]

Mission: The flames of purity

Day: 16

Stardate: 2445:09:16


( USS Exeter - Bridge - CO, Lt. Commander Trip Williams and RSE Director
Ashlyn Williams - 0908)

"Oh Sugar Bear, I missed you so much. I'm so glad you are safe."

Ash felt herself glow in the embrace.

He released the hug. "Sorry, I've been holding back so much. I'll just
blame it on the implant."

Ash pulled her husband into an embrace, she worried very very deeply about
a lot of what was going on. She utterly trusted her sister, and even more
so Ailynn, in whose hands she would place her life countless times over.
But the implant tech set her water on edge, the ancient part of her brain
didn’t like it.

Pulling his head into her chest in a deep embrace, Ash kissed the top of
his head.

“Don’t you ever hold back from me baby. I’m not that same stupid kid, I
never was that kid, You share with me dammit, no matter how painful to your
pride it may be.”

“It’s fine baby, I just had to hold back all the worry all the anxiety, all
the sorrow, and do my job. It’s hard wearing that mask, and I realize now
why so many Stafleet Officers never marry. But…. I wouldn’t change our
family for the world. As painful as days may be...It’s better with you in
it. I’m so glad we got you home.”

“More fool them. Everyone needs a someone. A...person at home. It may be
man...woman...whatever, but baby...You can’t do your job without talking to
me? Honeycakes...you know you talk in your sleep yeah?”

“Do I?”

“And I worry, but in the morning you give me that smile, and that hug, and
tell me you’re okay.”

“So what do I say in my sleep?”

“That...Captain...is need to know….” She pulled him into a hug. “And you
don’t. It's okay. I’m...your support.”

“I love you, you know. This adventure...would be a little less without you.”
Ashlyn twinkled as she smiled, her cadence of speech unnaturally reserved.
“So there is more..I...didn’t feel too great on the other ship, Vesper
scanned me.”

"Are you ok? Did they hurt you? How's the baby? Any complications?" Trip
then began asking the overreacting questions. He just was happy she was
home, but they still needed to rescue Ailynn and Ryelle.

“H’oookayy. One at a time there Captain.” Ash smiled, her soul melding once
more to Trips presence. “The baby is fine. I'm horribly morning sick and
other than Vesper being a pain, Which I love him for, he’s a lovely
passionate Doctor. I’m fine baby.”

“Gabe certainly is something else. Sometimes its hard to believe that he
and Ailynn are related. Other times it is very easy to see.” Trip paused,
“Wait a minute, I guess he knows huh? I guess I kinda told the bridge crew
too. Guess the secrets out.”

“I’m afraid so, but you mentioned complications?”

“It was just a question of...well I guess paternal concern. Well that’s a
new one for me.” Trip said with a smile as he backed away and placed his
hand on Ash’s stomach.

Ashlyn tilted her head, glowing in the moment, her entire body feeling
alive, her entire being encapsulating the happiness that she felt. Lifting
up, she pulled him into her, and whispered into his ear.

Quietly nodding, biting her bottom lip, and leaning back on his desk. She
nodded gently.

“So how certain?”

“I know.” She whispered. Two words heard only to themselves, once more she
pulled him toward her. The closest of embraces. “I love you honey.”

“Elephant in the room...his name. Ummm, I kind of have a request.”

“Sooo. We’re doing this now...Of course honey.”

“See ever since the first of the Williams clan to enter Starfleet, Andrew
Michael Williams the first, each of the first born son of the first born
son bore the name of the father, up until the third. Then once they got to
the third, they switched to a different name. Usually some combination of
James, Michael, Andrew, and Gabriel.”

Ashlyn smiled gently, listening as he spoke.

“So, I’m the third, so in theory, I should name the kid something else
right? But as I connected more and more with my dad and gramps over the
last year, and realized how proud I am to carry on their legacy, well I
want to buck tradition, and start a new line. So might I suggest, James
Andrew Williams the Fourth? But with a twist. My Gramps was James, dad was
Duke, I’m Trip. Why not call him Drew, after Captain Drew Williams, my
ancestor, the first Williams in Starfleet. If that’s ok with you. I
promise, we can name the next kid after someone your family. Like Veronica
Kadaya if its a girl.”

Ash pursed her lips, amused. “Next time? Lets get this one here first with
all the changes that he will bring.

“Yeah,” Trip said with a soft sigh, as if this little reprieve’s bubble was
popped and he remembered he had two crewmembers still missing.

She hugged him again, and kissed his cheek. “Now, I’d better get back to
sickbay. You...bring my family home.”

“I will.” He said with a smile.

“Love you”

Minutes later Ashlyn stepped back into sickbay, waved at the nurse she had
seen earlier, and lay back on the biobed that she had been put on. She
hadn’t realised how tired she was until that moment, and quickly drifted
off to sleep.

As Trip returned to the bridge and sat down in the command chair his eyes
seemed more determined, His biggest fear lifted, his wife and unborn child
safe. He was going to have a son, and he couldn’t wait to meet him. But
now, now that the one thing holding him back was back on board and he no
longer had to worry about Ash and little Drew, his eyes flashed a steeley
resolve.

Play time was over. It was time to kick ass.

(reply none)
(posted by Will and Mark)
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